Societal Issues

Food aid has become a normal way of life for many in France, with more than seven million people in need of assistance in 2022. Unfortunately, those requiring aid often feel ashamed and are often judged by others. It has also become a way for producers and retailers to make a profit, with farmers able to sell fruit and vegetables that would otherwise be unsellable and stores able to offload products past their sell-by date. Food aid has become an integral part of the agro-industrial complex, and not the emergency measure it was meant to be. Read full article here

Italian women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, with a ‘she-cession’ causing the loss of 99,000 female jobs. The structural issues causing this are complex and rooted in both cultural and institutional barriers. In response, however, female entrepreneurs have displayed impressive growth and resilience, with their businesses faring better than those run by males. This demonstrates the importance of supporting female entrepreneurs, who could be the key to Italy’s economic recovery. Read full article here

Residents living near a Jack Daniel’s distillery in Tennessee are fighting back against a black fungus – known as whiskey or rum fungus – that covers everything in its path. A local event venue owner is suing the company due to the costly power-washing needed to keep the fungus at bay. Jack Daniel’s doesn’t want to install air filters as it may interfere with its whiskey taste, so the fungus will continue to wreak havoc until the alcohol supply is turned off. Read full article here

In Honduras, abortion is illegal and carries a prison sentence of up to six years. But with the swearing-in of the country’s first female president, Xiomara Castro, in January 2022, activists are hopeful for incremental change. They launched the Hablemos Lo Que Es PAE campaign to make emergency contraception available in a very limited way, and even managed to get more than 700,000 Hondurans to sign a petition demanding the government take action. It’s a huge step forward in the fight to advance sexual and reproductive rights in the country, and to give women the autonomy to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures. Read full article here

It’s not every day you hear of ‘super pigs’ being set free, but this is exactly what happened in Canada around 20 years ago! A hybrid breed of domestic pig and wild boar were crossbred in order to help farmed pigs survive the cold temperatures of the freezing nation. Unfortunately, the demand for these animals dried up, and farmers proceeded to set them free – resulting in a potential disaster that may soon spread to the U.S.! Read full article here

Nick Bostrom, an influential Oxford philosopher, posted an apology for a racist email he sent 26 years ago. The original message showed a lack of understanding of what was considered racist and offensive. In his apology, Bostrom said he completely repudiates the email and does not agree with it now. This news has sparked a conversation about racism in the world, especially in academic philosophy, and whether people should be held accountable for the things they say. Read full article here